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Thursday, 13 September 2018

'You may go to bed crying... but it's the best job in the world': Prince Harry recalls the 'blood, sweat and tears' of his own time in the military as he meets Royal Marine recruits as their new Captain General

Harry at Royal Marines Commando Training Centre for first time in his role as Captain General Royal Marines

The Duke of Sussex assumed the role succeeding his grandfather The Duke of Edinburgh after some 64 years

He arrived at in a Royal Navy Wildcat Maritime Attack Helicopter drawn from the Commando Helicopter Force

The Duke of Sussex today told young Royal Marines recruits they face 'blood, sweat and tears' in the months ahead as he carried out his first role as their Captain General.

Making a dramatic entrance by helicopter, Prince Harry joked the young men were 'like rabbits in the headlights' as he visited the Marines' main training base in Lympstone, Devon for the first time as the outfit's Captain General.

Harry arrived in a Royal Navy Wildcat Maritime Attack Helicopter drawn from the Commando Helicopter Force, who provide crucial aerial support to the Royal Marines.

The former Apache helicopter commander jumped from the Wildcat, flown by 847 Naval Air Squadron to meet the marines.

Speaking to one group who are a fortnight into 32 weeks of training to earn the coveted green beret, the duke quipped: 'You're going to need each other, that's for sure.'

Harry assumed the role in December last year, succeeding his grandfather The Duke of Edinburgh who was Captain General for some 64 years.

The Duke of Sussex is presented with the Sword of honour by Major General Charlie Stickland OBE

Harry larked about with the Invictus Games Racing team's fleet of cars, including this miniature model

The Duke of Sussex became Captain General Royal Marines in December 2017 and assumed the role in succession to his grandfather The Duke of Edinburgh, who was Captain General for some 64 years

Harry met with William Prosser and his father, Afghan veteran and Royal Marine Kieran Prosser - who was this year part of a 'handpicked' team to take the England football squad through a tough training weekend to instil 'Commando Spirit'

Prince Harry got into the spirit of things in the training centre and helped put young new recruits through their paces

The Duke watched recruits being put through their paces on a rope course above a freezing tank of water, and saw a number haul themselves out dripping after falling in.

Harry, a former Army captain who served in the forces for 10 years, added: 'It's going to be blood, sweat and tears.

'Every single time you end up going to bed where you're crying, or got a sore leg, or an emotional issue to have to deal with - but it is without doubt probably one of the best professions you can ever be involved with.'You guys are in one of the top jobs, you get to be a marine and get to do everything that comes along with it.'

The Duke chatted with Marines and and their families including William Prosser and his father, Afghan veteran and Royal Marine Kieran Prosser.

Sgt Prosser was this year part of a 'handpicked' team to take the England football squad through a tough training weekend in a bid to instil 'Commando Spirit'.

The Duke of Sussex told young Royal Marines recruits they face 'blood, sweat and tears' in the months ahead but are in one of the world's best jobs

The Duke of Sussex poses with The Invictus Games Foundation GT Championship team

Formed in 2017, Invictus Games Racing is a collaborative project with the Invictus Games Foundation

The former Apache helicopter commander jumped from the Wildcat, flown by 847 Naval Air Squadron from Commando Helicopter Force based at Royal Naval Air Station Yeovilton, to meet senior marines

The Duke of Sussex sits in a car that has been commissioned by Jaguar and Landrover and specially adapted to race in the GT Championships

The Duke concluded the day at Lympstone with a ceremonial sword presentation on the steps of the centre

The Duke of Sussex is today meeting Royal Marines recruits for the first time as their Captain General

The Duke of Sussex shared a joke with Royal Marines as he made his way from the officers' mess

Harry met with Royal Marine Phil Eaglesham and his dog Cooper. Cpl Eaglesham contracted an illness known as Q Fever (Helmand Fever) while on tour in Afghanistan, falling ill as he prepared to leave Camp Bastian. Although the infection has now been treated, the after affects had a huge effect on Phillip's daily and family life

Harry could be seen looking relaxed as he came in to land on the barracks in Lympstone

The Duke with Corporal Matt Drake, who suffered injury in the Middle East and is now supported by The Royal Marines Charity. In December 2016, Cpl Drake was left paralysed from chest level after an accident while deployed with 42 Commando Royal Marines

It was announced in May 2017 that The Duke of Edinburgh would be stepping back from Royal Engagements, with his final official engagement coming at the finale of the Royal Marines 1664 Global Challenge at Buckingham Palace. Harry took on his role last December

The Duke arrived at the Centre in a Royal Navy Wildcat Maritime Attack Helicopter drawn from the Commando Helicopter Force, who provide crucial aerial support to the Royal Marines

The Royal Family has a long association with the Royal Navy, with Harry's grandfather having been affiliated with the Royal Marines for some 64 years

In 2008, Prince Harry was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant with The Household Cavalry (Blues and Royals)

The Duke of Sussex talks with Commandant General of Lympstone, Major General Charlie Stickland OBE. Major General Stickland joined the Royal Marines in 1987, serving in Northern Ireland, anti smuggling operations in Hong Kong and numerous amphibious deployments to Norway, the Mediterranean rim and the Far East

Prince Harry inspected the Marines - and appeared to make one young recruit chuckle

Known as Captain Harry Wales in the Army, the Duke served two tours of Afghanistan from 2007 to 2008 and 2012 to 2013 before leaving in 2015

Prince Harry served in the Army for ten years, rising to the rank of Captain and undertaking two tours of Afghanistan

Harry also met Phil Eaglesham and his dog Cooper. Cpl Eaglesham contracted an illness known as Q Fever, or Helmand Fever, while on tour in Afghanistan, falling ill as he prepared to leave Camp Bastian.

Although the infection has now been treated, the after affects had a huge effect on Phillip's daily and family life.

Corporal Matt Drake, who was paralysed from chest level after an accident while deployed with 42 Commando Royal Marines in 2016, also spoke with Harry about how he is supported by The Royal Marines Charity.

Harry takes over from the Duke of Edinburgh, whose association with the Royal Marines dates back 64 years to 2nd June 1953, when he was appointed Captain General in succession to the late King George VI.

The royal made his way out of the Royal Navy Wildcat Maritime Attack Helicopter before he received a ceremonial welcome

Having spent a decade serving in the Army, Harry is no stranger to military training centres and looked at ease as he jumped out of the helicopter

Harry has used his role as a member of the royal family to bring wider public attention to the support that wounded, injured and sick servicemen and women need through their entire rehabilitation process

He chatted to officers as he made his way to meet the new recruits, who are about to undergo their intense training

Harry spent ten years working in the Armed Forces, ending operational duties in 2015. During his service, he conducted two tours of duty to Afghanistan with the British Army

Having served in the British Army for ten years, The Duke of Sussex says he is 'passionate about promoting the welfare of those who are serving or who have served their country in the Armed Forces'

Harry has volunteered with the Army's Personnel Recovery Unit in London, trekked with wounded servicemen and women to the South Pole and in the Arctic, and supported a number of adventure challenges through his Endeavour Fund, and organising the Invictus Games

The Duke looked smart in brown suede desert boots, beige chinos and a suit jacket as he was shown around the barracks

After making a grand entrance by helicopter, the Duke of Sussex strolled around the officers' mess and barracks

Having assumed his new role last December, Harry is now meeting the new recruits and learning about their training

The Duke of Sussex waits to inspect the troops at the Royal Marines Commando Training Centre

Prince Harry is set to explore the centre and meet new recruits undergoing training in order to learn more about the process of becoming a Royal Marine

Harry explored the barracks and met new recruits undergoing training in order to learn more about the process of becoming a Royal Marine, before meeting the Invictus Games Racing Team who will be using Lympstone on the day for a team bonding exercise.

He received a ceremonial welcome before meeting recruits training in the gym and commando assault course.

The Duke also learnt about the support services on offer to Royal Marines, such as the onsite rehabilitation centre, the Royal Marines charity and a regular family group called 'Who Let The Dads Out' at which Marines families take time to chat, play and have a cup of tea once a week.

Harry then met the Invictus Games Racing Team which includes former Royal Marine Commandos Steve McCulley and Paul Vice MC.

In 2000, aged just 16, Paul Vice MC joined the Royal Marines. In 2011 while on foot patrol in Helmand Province, he stepped on a command wire Improvised Explosive Device (IED), which detonated underneath his Section.

He suffered a traumatic brain injury resulting in paralysis of his right arm, and more than 400 pieces of shrapnel were removed from his body by surgeons. He was, as a subsequent documentary called him, 'The Commando Who Refused To Die'.

He was one of six casualties from the explosion which, as he describes, 'took from me the one thing I felt I was born to do – be a soldier'. In 2014, he competed in the first Invictus Games, winning a gold medal in cycling. After the Games he had to have his left leg amputated below the knee. He was medically discharged in August 2015.

His seven-medal haul at the 2016 Invictus Games meant he returned home as the competition's most successful male athlete.

In 2011, fourteen years after first joining the Royal Marines, Major Steve McCulley was nearly killed by an IED while leading 175 Royal Marines in Helmand Province, Afghanistan and he lay in a coma for three weeks.

He had served in Commando Units during operational tours to Northern Ireland, the Balkans, Sierra Leone, Iraq and Afghanistan

As part of the new Invictus Games Racing team, Steve raced in the first half of the season alongside professional driver Matthew George.

The team comprises four ex-service personnel from the Royal Marines, the RAF and the Parachute Regiment, in addition to two professional drivers.

The Duke will also learn about the support services on offer to Royal Marines, such as the onsite rehabilitation centre, the Royal Marines charity and a regular family group called 'Who Let The Dads Out'. Pictured, Harry arriving by helicopter

The Duke of Edinburgh's association with the Royal Marines dates back 64 years to 2nd June 1953, when he was appointed Captain General in succession to the late King George VI

The Queen last year have her formal approval to the appointment of Prince Henry as Captain General Royal Marines, succeeding the role from The Duke of Edinburgh

Harry received a ceremonial welcome before meeting recruits training in the gym and commando assault course

The Commando Training Centre at Lympstone selects and trains all Royal Marines Officers, recruits and reserves. On average, 1,300 recruits, 2,000 potential recruits and 400 potential officers attend training courses and acquaint courses there every year

The Duke will also meet the Invictus Games Racing Team, which includes former Royal Marine Commandos Steve McCulley and Paul Vice MC, who will be using Lympstone on the day for a team bonding exercise

Today Harry will also meet the Invictus Games Racing Team and see their specially adapted racing cars

The Duke will also meet a family group called 'Who Let The Dads Out' at which Marines families take time to chat, play and have a cup of tea once a week

A salute was made after the Duke of Sussex had inspected the troops

The Duke of Sussex is seen here meeting and chatting to commandos at the barracks in Lympstone